Jason Franks, shown pitching against Long Beach State in April, was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the eighth round Monday.
Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics
Cal Poly Closer Jason Franks Drafted in 8th Round by Atlanta Braves
7/18/2022 8:17:00 PM | Baseball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Jason Franks, whose 11 saves in 2022 are the most by a Cal Poly pitcher in five years, was drafted by the Atlanta Braves during the second day of the Major League Baseball Draft on Monday at XBox Plaza in Los Angeles.
The Braves selected Franks in the eighth round, representing the 245th overall pick. Rounds three through 10 were conducted Monday with the remaining 10 rounds set for Tuesday.
On Sunday, Mustang shortstop Brooks Lee became the highest-drafted Cal Poly baseball player, chosen eighth by the Minnesota Twins. About three hours later, pitcher Drew Thorpe was taken in the second round (61st overall pick) by the New York Yankees.
Cal Poly had players drafted in the first and second rounds in the same draft for the first time and at least three players chosen in the first eight rounds for the first time in eight years.
Four members of the 2014 Mustang Big West Conference championship team were selected in the first seven rounds of the draft -- Matt Imhof (second round), Nick Torres (fourth round), Zach Zehner (seventh round) and Reed Reilly (seventh round).
From 2005-08, three Mustangs were chosen in the first 10 rounds in each of the four drafts.
In 2005, Garrett Olson (first round), Jimmy Shull (fifth round) and Brandon Roberts (seventh round) were selected. Gary Daley (sixth round), Josh Lansford (sixth round) and Bud Norris (sixth round) were picked in 2006.
Grant Desme (second round), Evan Reed (third round) and Thomas Eager were drafted in 2007. The next year, Brent Morel (third round), Logan Schafer (third round) and Kevin Castner (10th round) were chosen.
Franks climaxed a remarkable Cal Poly baseball career with 11 saves as Cal Poly's closer this season, the most by a Mustang since Michael Clark also notched 11 saves in 2017.
Franks, who played on Cal Poly's club baseball team as a freshman and sophomore before working his way onto the intercollegiate roster prior to the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, pitched in just five games, a total of 4 2/3 innings, in 2020 and 2021 combined before blossoming into one of the conference's elite closers in 2022.
Franks struck out 69 batters over 54 innings for an 11.50 strikeouts-per-nine-innings figure, walked just 22 and held foes to a .228 batting average. He also earned four victories against Fresno State, UNLV, UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton.
Compiling a 4-2 win-loss record and 3.17 ERA, Franks was presented with the team's Jim Newkirk Fireman's Award.
The Braves selected Franks in the eighth round, representing the 245th overall pick. Rounds three through 10 were conducted Monday with the remaining 10 rounds set for Tuesday.
On Sunday, Mustang shortstop Brooks Lee became the highest-drafted Cal Poly baseball player, chosen eighth by the Minnesota Twins. About three hours later, pitcher Drew Thorpe was taken in the second round (61st overall pick) by the New York Yankees.
Cal Poly had players drafted in the first and second rounds in the same draft for the first time and at least three players chosen in the first eight rounds for the first time in eight years.
Four members of the 2014 Mustang Big West Conference championship team were selected in the first seven rounds of the draft -- Matt Imhof (second round), Nick Torres (fourth round), Zach Zehner (seventh round) and Reed Reilly (seventh round).
From 2005-08, three Mustangs were chosen in the first 10 rounds in each of the four drafts.
In 2005, Garrett Olson (first round), Jimmy Shull (fifth round) and Brandon Roberts (seventh round) were selected. Gary Daley (sixth round), Josh Lansford (sixth round) and Bud Norris (sixth round) were picked in 2006.
Grant Desme (second round), Evan Reed (third round) and Thomas Eager were drafted in 2007. The next year, Brent Morel (third round), Logan Schafer (third round) and Kevin Castner (10th round) were chosen.
Franks climaxed a remarkable Cal Poly baseball career with 11 saves as Cal Poly's closer this season, the most by a Mustang since Michael Clark also notched 11 saves in 2017.
Franks, who played on Cal Poly's club baseball team as a freshman and sophomore before working his way onto the intercollegiate roster prior to the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, pitched in just five games, a total of 4 2/3 innings, in 2020 and 2021 combined before blossoming into one of the conference's elite closers in 2022.
Franks struck out 69 batters over 54 innings for an 11.50 strikeouts-per-nine-innings figure, walked just 22 and held foes to a .228 batting average. He also earned four victories against Fresno State, UNLV, UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton.
Compiling a 4-2 win-loss record and 3.17 ERA, Franks was presented with the team's Jim Newkirk Fireman's Award.
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